2010 Lexus ES 350 Owners Manual - Page 502

5

449

5-2. Steps to take in an emergency

CAUTION

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Maintenance of the tires

Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly when cold

and inflated to the inflation pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer on

the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label (tire and load information label).

(If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the vehicle

placard or tire inflation pressure label [tire and load information label], you should

determine the proper tire inflation pressure for those tires.)

As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire pressure

monitoring system (TPMS-tire pressure warning system) that illuminates a low tire

pressure telltale (tire pressure warning light) when one or more of your tires is sig-

nificantly under-inflated. Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale (tire pres-

sure warning light) illuminates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as

possible, and inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a significantly under-

inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation

also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle's handling

and stopping ability.

Please note that the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) is not a substitute for

proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver's responsibility to maintain correct tire

pressure, even if under-inflation has not reached the level to trigger illumination of

the TPMS low tire pressure telltale (tire pressure warning light).

Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS (tire pressure warning system)

malfunction indicator to indicate when the system is not operating properly. The

TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfunction indicator is combined with the

low tire pressure telltale (tire pressure warning light). When the system detects a

malfunction, the telltale will flash for approximately one minute and then remain

continuously illuminated. This sequence will continue upon subsequent vehicle

start-ups as long as the malfunction exists. When the malfunction indicator is illumi-

nated, the system may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended.

TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfunctions may occur for a variety of rea-

sons, including the installation of replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the

vehicle that prevent the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) from functioning

properly. Always check the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfunction tell-

tale after replacing one or more tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the

replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS (tire pressure warning

system) to continue to function properly.